View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ida tell Giovanna about Vittoria?

2. What does Vittoria tell Giovanna in the cemetery about her and Enzo that transfixes Giovanna?

3. What affectionate nickname does Vittoria have for Giovanna?

4. What does Giovanna's father especially like about her appearance?

5. What does Giovanna have planned for May 23 in Part II?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Vittoria tell Giovanna about herself and Enzo that enthralls Giovanna?

2. According to Vittoria, what happened between she and Andrea that began their big fight?

3. Why does Vittoria tell Giovanna that Giovanna's father avoids cemeteries?

4. What is one major source of tension between Giovanna and her parents in Part I?

5. What do Giovanna and Angela frequently do that makes Ida feel left out when all three girls sleep over together?

6. What does Giovanna witness between her mother, Nella, and Mariano one night that shocks her in Part II?

7. What does Vittoria tell Giovanna about a gift she supposedly gave Giovanna when she was a baby?

8. What does Giovanna discover in her parents' photo albums?

9. How do Giovanna's parents react when she says she wants to meet Vittoria?

10. Why does Giovanna begin pestering her friends Angela and Ida about their opinions of her appearance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is Giovanna's impression of the dynamics of her mother Nella's friendship with Costanza? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think Giovanna becomes so obsessed with Roberto? What kinds of uncomfortable parallels does Giovanna eventually begin to draw between Roberto and other men in her life? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Why does Giuliana seem so desperately insecure in regards to her self-worth and her relationship with Roberto? Write an essay explaining your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 692 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample